Mechanical digital-coded unlocking device



Nov. 5, 1963 1 v. sEYFoRTH 3,110,014

MECHANICAL DIGITAL-CODED UNLOCKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24,v 1960 L) 1N VEN TOR.

ZEJLE VSEYFPTH BY ATTRN'EY Stes Patent I 3,ll0,fl4 Patented Nov. 5, 19633,110,014 MECHANICAL DIGITAL-CODED UNLOCKING v DEVICE Leshe VaughanSeyforth, Middletown, NJ., assignor to The Bendix Corporation, acorporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 10,743 6 Claims.(Cl. 340-164) The present invention relates to a digital decoding systemand more particularly to a digital decoding system for protecting aremotely operated switch from inadvertent or unauthorized operation.

In some applications which require the operation of a remote controlleddevice it is necessary to provide means to prevent it from beingoperated inadvertently or unauthorized yet have a fast response forauthorized operation. Various types of cam actuated slider bars havebeen utilized in the past. However, it has been found that they arelimited in speed by the mass of the slider bars and also subject toerror in resetting the code at the end of a cycle or in the event of areset caused by the wrong code.

The present invention provides an improved decoding system in which thecoding keys are stationary and the decoding steps are performed with oneactuator which is simple and may be reset without any danger of causinga change in the position of the coding keys.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved coding system.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanicaldecoder that is simple and reliable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved decoder thatis accurate and fast in response.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved decoder thatmay be reset without any danger of upsetting a prearranged sequence.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appearmore fully hereinafter from a consideration of the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodimentis illustrated by way of example.

In the drawing the single FIGURE is a diagrammatical presentation of asystem embodying 'the invention.

Referring now to the drawing a decoder is indicated generally by thenumeral 1 and is adapted to be mounted on a suitable frame which hasbeen omitted for simplicity. The decoder 1 has a plurality of codingkeys 2 having an opening or notch 3 therein. The coding keys 2 areadapted to be positioned so that the notch 3 will be in one of twopositions illustrated as 4 and 5L It is understood that the keys 2 wouldbe mounted on a suitable frame (not illustrated) and held in position bya detent or other suitable method.

A feeler bar assembly 6 is pivotally mounted on a follower 7 which ismounted on lead screw 8. The assembly 6 includes a feeler bar 9 mountedby pins 10 to pivot axially in a follower arm 11 which pivots radiallyon follower 7. The feeler bar 9 is maintained in a normally uprightposition by a spring 12. A reset switch 13 is secured to the arm 11 andpositoned so that it may be actuated by the pivoting of the feeler bar9.

A shift bar 14 extends through an opening 15 in the arm 11. The shiftbar 14 actuates the arm 11 and thereby the feeler bar to one or theother of two positions by means of solenoids 16 and 17. The solenoids 16and 17 are connected to the shift bar 14 by rods 18 and 19 and yoke 20.The solenoids 16 and 17 are connected by conductors 21, 22 and 23 to acontroller 24.

The lead screw 8 is driven in a direction to advance the follower 7 by adrive spring 25. A ratchet 26 and pawl dog 27 are provided fortensioning the spring 25. A drive escapement 23 is provided to controlthe drive spring 25. The escapement 28 is actuated by a drive solenoid29 which is energized from the controller 24.

A reset motor 30 is connected to the other end of the lead screw 8 bygears 31 and 32 and clutch 33. The motor 30 is provided with a contaotor34 which may be energized from the reset switch 13 through flexiblecable 35, an end of travel switch 36, or from the controller 24. Thecontactor 34 is also provided with a switch 37 adapted to be actuated bythe follower 7 upon its being returned to a predetermined position. Aguide 3S may be provided for the follower 7.

A control switch 39 is positioned for actuation by the feeler bar 9after it has correctly traversed a predetermined number of sequentialsteps which is determined by the number of code bars 2. As an additionalsafety measure the switch 39 cannot be activated until a parity steppingdisc 40 has been actuated in a predetermined manner to bring a slot 41in the disc 40 in alignment with the switch 39. The stepping disc 40 isconnected for actuation by the controller 24 through a solenoid 42.

In the operation a predetermined binary code is set up by moving thecode bars 2 so that the notches 3 are in either the position 4 or 5.Each notch, depending upon its transverse position, corresponds to azero or a one-bit in the code. Decoding is a functon of sequentiallystepping the feeler bar through a labyrinth of preset notches. With thecorrect code being transmitted from the controller, the solenoids 16 and17 move the feeler bar 9 to the zero or one-bit position in accordancewith the code signal and at the same time energize the drive solenoid toactuate the escapement thus permitting the drive spring to actuate thelead screw and advance the feeler bar one step. Also the parity steppingdisc is advanced one step. If the received code agrees with the manuallyinserted code, the feeler bar will enter a notch and be ready for thenext step. Upon being correctly coded, and if the parity check iscorrect, the feeler bar will contact and actuate the switch 39. In theevent that a bit is incorrect, the code bar will block the feeler barand cause it to swing to actuate the reset switch. This will energizethe reset motor and cause it to drive the feeler bar back to itsoriginal position. The disc, stepped in parallel with the drive solenoiddirectly from the input counting pulses, has a single clearance notch sothat the contact circuit can be closed if, and only if, the feeler barand the notch arrive in the correct position simultaneous. Thus theswitch 39 can only be operated upon the correct code pattern beingreceived by the decoding mechanism.

Although a longitudinal array of code bars with a transverse motion ofthe code sensing actuator has been described, a radial array of codebars could be utilized. In the latter case, the bit-counting motionwould be rotational with the y'bit-polarity motion parallel to the axisof rotation.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, various changes in the form and relative arrangement of theparts, which will now appear to those skilled in the art, may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical decoder comprising a plurality of code bars havingopenings therein, said code bars being positioned so that the openingstherein are in one or the other of two positions, a feeler barpositioned for transversing said openings, a lead screw adapted toadvance said feeler bar, means for driving said feeler bar, means foractuating said feeler bar to one of said two positions, and meansresponsive to a predetermined input signal to synchronize and operatesaid driving and actuating means to cause said feeler bar to traversesaid openings in said code bars.

2. Apparatus for actuating a device upon the receipt of a predeterminedcode, comprising a lead screw, drive means for said lead screw, afollower assembly mounted on said lead screw and adapted for axialtravel thereon, a plurality of code keys, mounted in operablerelationship with said follower assembly, said code keys having anopening therein and positioned so that said openings are in one of twopositions, means for simultaneously actuating said drive member andshifting said follower assembly transversely to one of `two positions inalignment with said openings in response to a predetermined code to movesaid follower assembly through the openings in said code keys, and adevice operable upon said follower assembly passing through said codekeys.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and including means forautomatically resetting said follower assembly upon the receipt of awrong code.

4. A coded actuator for operating a device upon the receipt of apredetermined code, comprising a device to be actuated, a plurality ofcode keys having openings therein, means for positioning said keys sothat the openings therein are in one of two positions, a feeler bar,means for actuating said feeler bar into alignment with either of saidtwo positions in response to a predetermined code, other meansresponsive to said code to move said feeler bar axially through saidopenings in proper sequence to operate said device.

5. The combination as set for-th in claim 4 and including means forresetting said feeler bar upon said feeler bar coming in contact withone of said code keys.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 4 and including a stepping discoperatable by said code to position said disc to permit operation ofsaid device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,203,289 Zenner June 4, i940 2,544,330 Koenig Mar. 6, 1951 2,568,264Zenner Sept. 18, 1951 2,794,969 Barnhart June 4, 1957

1. A MECHANICAL DECODER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CODE BARS HAVINGOPENINGS THEREIN, SAID CODE BARS BEING POSITIONED SO THAT THE OPENINGSTHEREIN ARE IN ONE OR THE OTHER OF TWO POSITIONS, A FEELER BARPOSITIONED FOR TRANSVERSING SAID OPENINGS, A LEAD SCREW ADAPTED TOADVANCE SAID FEELER BAR, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID FEELER BAR, MEANS FORACTUATING SAID FEELER BAR TO ONE OF SAID TWO POSITIONS, AND MEANSRESPONSIVE TO A PREDETERMINED INPUT SIGNAL TO SYNCHRONIZE AND OPERATESAID DRIVING AND ACTUATING MEANS